Construction of structural members



m, 22, m9. D. H. GREEN 2,462,385

CONSTRUCTION OF STRUCTURAL MEMBERS Filed April 1,1946 3 Sheets-Sheet l85.22, 1949 D, H, GREEN 2,462,385

CONSTRUCTION OF STRUCTURAL MEMBERS Filed April 1, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 2UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CONSTRUCTION OF STRUCTURAL MEMBERS DouglasHarold Green, London, England Application April 1, 1946, Serial No.658,688 In Great Britain April 4, 1945 9 Claims. (Cl. 72-409) Thisinvention relates to the construction of structural members, e. g. thewalls, roofs, floors and other parts of buildings, the walls of tanksand other containers, and structural members for a wide variety of otherpurposes.

Numerous attempts have been made to provide a frame construction for usein building floors and walls comprising main beams connected to columns.Thus a number of load carrying beams, arranged in rectangular formationor as circular units have been supported at a number of points ontransverse beams running to the columns.

The object of the present invention is an improved form of structuralmember whereby, the load. e. g. of suspended parts such as roofs, floorpanels and the like, is carried back to the supports, such assurrounding brick walls or corner columns, in a more effective manner.

According to the present invention an improved structural member isprovided comprising a series of load-carrying torsion components in theform of similar closed geometrical figures, e. g. triangles, squares,circles, ellipses, rectangles or other polygons, disposed co-axially orconcentrically, said elements being of a depth in an axial direction togive a predetermined torsional stiffness, and linkage members forholding adjacent components in spaced relation, the linkage membersbeing so constucted as to operate in tension and substantially withoutany beam action.

In the simplest form the torsion elements may consist of shallow steelcylinders of various diameters and of relatively short axial depth. Forthe tension members short steel straps may be used. Four strapsconsisting of steel strip extending from the region of the bottom edgeof an inner element to the region of the upper edge of the next adjacentouter element and disposed on selected radiating lines, will givesatisfactory results the number of sets of said straps corresponding tothe number of elements. Alternatively, the connecting straps may beformed by fiat diaphragms disposed in radial planes. The outer elementsare connected to the upper ends of the columns, to the surroundingwalls, or other supporting members by further straps or diaphragms,disposed in alignment with the straps or diaphragins, connecting theseries of elements and braced if necessary by further structural membersalso formed of co-axially or concentrically disposed and connectedelements.

As an example, in the case of a structural member, such as a roof orfloor of a building intended to be supported by a rectangulardisposition of columns, the straps or diaphragms may be convenientlyarranged on the diagonals of the rectangle formed by the columns.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in whichFigures 1 and 2 are respectively a plan and side elevation of astructure suitable for use as flooring in accordance with one embodimentof the invention. Figure 3 is a sectional view on an enlarged scaleshowing a tie member between two elements of the structure. Figure 4 isa part plan view corresponding to Figure 2 but illustrating analternative form of column support. Figures 5 and 6 are sectional views,similar to Figure 3, of other forms of tie members. Figure'iis adiagrammatic sectional view. Figures 8, 9, and 10 are diagrammatic planviews illustrating various floor or wall constructions. Figures 11 and12 are plan views of modification-s.

The structural member of this invention is built up of a series of loadcarrying components in the form of closed geometrical figures ofdiminishing or increasing size e. g. circles, squares, triangles,

ellipses and other polygons disposed concentrically or about a commonaxis.

In the form shown in Figures 1-3, the components consists of a series ofconcentric shallow cylinders or rings of which there are nine, indicatedat I, l I I Each component I, l has substantially vertical depth whichis sufiicient to resist torsional stresses, to which in the finishedflow structure it may be subjected and which is in part determined bythe cross section and thickness of the metal. In the formation of thestructure, for example a wall or floor, the outermost component orelement I is suspended at a number of points on or external to itsperiphery which, in Figure 1, take the form of four corner posts 2, eachpost having an overhanging bracket arm 3. Arms 3 may consist of shortgirders of I-section, to the inner ends of which is secured element l ofthe series. The second element l in its turn is suspended from theoutermost element l of the series and the third element 1 from thesecond element l and so on.

It will be seen from Figure 2 that the elements possess depth in theaxial sense so as to give the required torsional depth in a plane whichis vertical or substantially vertical, parallel to the generating axisso as to ensure the required torsional depth will vary with the natureof the structure and of the load it is required to support.

The means connecting adjacent elements may consist of simple straps, forexample as shown in Figure 3, the straps may consist of plates 4 havingupturned ends 5 ands bent at an angle .to the strap so as to include afiat 1 which accommodates the thickness of metal of the elements I andis fastened thereto by bolts 3. In the arrangement shown, there are foursets of straps arranged on radiating lines selected to correspond to theposts 2, but it will be understood that the number of straps may bevaried to give the required strength to the structure and, if necessary,in addition to the straps subsidiary interconnecting members or steadies9 may be employed, but these are not essential.

In place of the posts 2 it will be obvious that the outermost elementmay be suspended from the containing walls of the building or room whereit is desired to provide a flooring, the elements being progressivelymounted one within the other from the larger and outer element to thecentre until the floor space of the structure is filled in by thesmallest and central element. 7

As applied to the construction shown in Figure 1 in place of the posts2, corresponding points of suspension may be made at points it] on theside walls i I (Figure 4) of the structure. In this case the side wallsmay replace the verticals 2 or be additional thereto, as shown in Figure4 where the bracket arms 3 are built into the wall H. It is to bepointed out, however, that in erection of the building or otherstructure the corner verticals 2 or the walls are essential and providethe foundation upon which the floor is built up as hereinafter describedin detail.

The members connecting the several elements may take various forms andin place of the flat strips shown I may employ webs l2 (see Figure 5)extending over the entire vertical area between the" two elements or atriangularly shaped web, one edge (the base) of which is fast with anouter element being secured at its apex to the inner element, whichitsupports. These Webs maybe spot welded to the elements, or the elementsmay be formed with lugs or flanges towhich the con necting members orlinks are fastened by bolting. It, may alternatively be convenient toprovide a continuous one-piece link [3 (Figure 6) of a size toaccommodate the number of elements in the series required for theparticular floor space.

Obviously the strip [3 may be replaced by rods of T or box section. V

For most purposes, as in the construction of a floor or wall, theelements will be arranged with their horizontal edges in a common planeparallel to. the surface of the finished member.

This,

however, is not essential and if desired they may be staggered andarranged in pyramidal form.

Thus theelements may be disposed with their median planes parallel butspaced from one aning members. The spaces between the elements y of thestructure may be filled with any suitable 7 form of filling materialsuch as concrete 16 (see Figure 2). r

The improved structural member is well adapted for use in conjunctionwith a number of supporting columns and the number of columns may beselected in accordance with considerations of convenience and placed inany position relative to the outer ring or-other shaped element of thestructure.

Load carrying components are usually disposed with their verticalsurfaces parallel to the axis of the finished structural member and inthe case of circular elements they would constitute a series of shallowconcentric circular cylinders.

In some cases, however, it is of advantage to form the circular or otherelements in such a manner. that the length of one perimeter is somewhatgreater than the length of the other perimeter, so that in the case ofcircular elements they are of truncated conical form with the largerdiameter uppermost. With the elements so constructed, still furtherresistance is offered to distortion due to torsional stresses, since thecarried load itself assists in such cases to resist such distortion.

The erection of a panel, such as a roof and floor, constructed inaccordance with this invention, is, it will be understood, preferablycarried out proceeding from the outside towards the inside, e. g. fromthe columns towards the centre of the structural member. The outer ringwith its supporting straps is first placed in position,

its straps being connected with the columns, and thereafter succeedinginner rings are added being connected With the last ring already inposition through the medium of the tension straps. Each ring is completeand stable in itself so that the operatives building the panel createtheir own platform upon which they are able to stand without the needfor any intermediate or auxiliary supports. The innermost or smallestring may be common to a'variety of sizes of bay or column spacing. Anyalteration in the size of bay or column spacing merely involvesthe'addition or omission of one or more rings or figures at the outsideand in no way affects the remainder. Thus the improved structuralmember, according to the invention,ofiers a great'advantage over theusual hitherto adopted practice in which variation in the size of baysor column spacing has involved utilisation of beams or other members ofincreased length or the rejection of beams of shorter length.

The structural elements may be formed of flat strips bent to the form ofa circle or other required geometrical figure or they may be formed offabricated elements such as lattice beams and each element may be formedof one piece joined at its ends or may be built up from a number ofparts suitably joined together. In the case for example of circularelements a number of the lattice beams may be'bent to segmental orarcuate form and suitably joined together, and where the membersconnecting adjacent elements are formed by straps the connection of thesegments to one another and to the adjacent elements, may be effectedby-a common connection, e. g. by bolting, welding, or the like.

Toform a structural plate, a skin or diaphragm I! of metal or othermaterial may be. aflixed to the upper and'low-er sides of the structuralmember built as described above, and such skin or diaphragm will serveto resist any torsional deformation of the elements of the structuralmember as a whole. Such a constructionis particularly well adapted foruse, in the production of floors and ceilings of buildings,

In completing the floor (orother structure) the interstices of theelementsmay be filled in with concrete I6 and obviously in designing thetensile strength 'of'the elements 1,15. etc. of the floor this. istakenfinto; account.

Referring -now to Figure-. 8. the area bounded nest of elements 45, 4545 5 by the lines OX, OY is subdivided into four sections i8, i9, 20, 2|each of which contains a nest of circular elements for convenience ofhandling.

In this case there arefive elements 22, 22 22? in each set or groupsuspended from corner posts 24, 25, 26, 2-7, incase of group I8 and forgroup 29 the corner posts 25 and 26 are common, the remaining two beingindicated at 28 and29.

Referring now to Figure 9, there is shown an arrangement similar to thatof Figure 8 but having four nests of elements 30, 3|, 32, 33, theelements being arranged in the form of squares with nine elements 34, 3434 in each of the nests. It will be obvious that other polygonalgroupings may be made and conveniently, as illustrated in Figure 10, theelements may be arranged in triangular form, as indicated at 40, 40 40The tie members may be constructed in accordance with Figures 3, 5 or 6and it will be seen (Figure 8) that the radiating lines along which thetie members are located are preferably arranged so as to be common toone another. Thus, in Figure 8 the tie members are arranged, in the caseof nest l8, on two diametral lines 4| and 42, and for group 2| at 43 and44, 4| and 44 being in alignment and having the common centre post orpillar 26.

For structural or other reasons it may be desirable to enclose and/orreinforce areas between adjacent groups and in Figure 8 an additional isprovided.

Referring now to Figures 9 and 10, the tie members are arranged forconvenience on lines intersecting the corner angles of the polygonalgroupings, but this is not essential and if desired as indicated atdotted lines at 46 in Figure 9, the location of the tie members may beat right angles to the length may intersect the elements 34, 34 34Referring now to Figures 11 and 12, there is shown an arrangementcombining elements of circular and polygonal, conveniently square, form.In the arrangement shown, the outer element 41 is circular and issuspended at four points 48 from the post 2. The next element 49 in theseries, which is square, is secured to the element 48 by a tie rod 50.The next element 5! is circular and it may be suspended from the element49 either by direct attachment to the tie member 50 and/or by other tiemembers indicated at 52.

What I claim is:

1, Means for supporting building structure, comprising a series of loadsupporting torsion elements, being constructed as an independent unit ofclosed geometrical form, said elements being arranged concentrically inrelation to one another and having depth in an axial direction to impartthe required torsional rigidity and linkage members connecting adjacentmembers to maintain them in spaced relationship to one another, saidlinkage members being constructed to operate in tension andsubstantially without any beam action.

2. Means for supporting building structure, comprising a series of loadsupporting torsion elements, each element being constructed as anindependent unit of closed geometrical form, said elements beingarranged concentrically in relation to one another and having depth inan axial direction to impart the required torsional rigidity,

a plurality of suspension points arranged equidis- I tant from the axisof said elements linkage members connecting the outermost element in theseriesto the suspension points and other members connecting theremaining adjacent elements in the series to maintain them in spacedrelation to one another and arranged in radial alignmentwith the firstnamed linkage members said linkage members being constructed to operatein tension and substantially; without any beam action. 1 c

3. In means for supporting building structure, the combination of, aseries of load carrying torsion elements of closed geometrical form,said elements being arranged concentrically and hav- -iii'giafdep'th intheir axial direction to give a predeterminedtorsional rigidity, and aplurality of linkage members interconnecting adjacent elements tomaintain them in spaced relation, said linkage members being constructedto operate in tension and substantially without beam action.

4. In means for supporting building structure, the combination of aseries of load carrying torsion elements of closed geometrical form,said elements being arranged concentrically and having a depth in theiraxial direction to give a predetermined torsional rigidity and aplurality of linkage members, disposed on selected radiating lines,interconnecting adjacent elements to maintain them in spaced relation,said linkage members being constructed to operate in tension andsubstantially without any beam action.

5. In means for supporting building structure, the combination of aseries of load carrying torsion elements of closed geometrical form,foundation supports for the outermost element in the series, saidelements being arranged concentrically and having a depth in their axialdirection to give a predetermined torsional rigidity, and linkagemembers interconnecting the outer element to the supports and adjacentelements to each other to maintain them in spaced relation, said linkagemembers being constructed to operate in tension and substantiallywithout beam action.

6. Means as claimed in claim 1 in which the linkage members compriseinclined straps with inverted ends and overhang the torsion elements towhich they are connected.

7. Means as claimed in claim 1 in which the linkage members compriseinclined straps with inverted ends and overhang the torsion elements,said straps being connected to said torsion elements by pinning.

8. In combination with a floor, a supporting structure therefor,comprising a series of load supporting torsion components each componentbeing constructed as an independent unit of closed geometrical form,said elements being arranged concentrically in relation to one anotherand having depth in an axial direction to impart the required torsionalrigidity and linkage mem-- bers connecting adjacent members to maintainthem in spaced relationship to one another, said linkage members beingconstructed to operate in tension and substantially without any beamaction.

9. In combination with a surface layer of concrete, a supportingstructure embedded therein, comprising a series of load supportingtorsion components, each component being constructed as an independentunit of closed geometrical form, said elements being arrangedconcentrically in relation to one another and having depth in an axialdirection to impart the required torsional rigidity and linkage membersconnecting adjacent members to maintain them in spaced re- -s datlonshipto oneianother, saidrltnkage membezs :bein'g -1:2on'struct'ed to operatein tension and sub- FOREIGN PATENTS stantl'ally withoutanybeam action.Number n ry Date 7 424,585 Great Britain 1935 DOUGLAS 5 6,4 2 Germany1932 OTHER REFERENCES Engineering News-Recordbpage 959,0f Decem-REFERENCES CITED ihe following refefences are of record in the 11 mmthis patenti 6m PF V LSTA'IES PATENTS Number Name Date 1354,5 18 Smulski.Sept.121,-1915

